On December 17, 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced that it had settled charges against Ohio-based Express, Inc. (“Express”). The SEC ultimately found that Express violated Sections 13(a) and 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rules 12b-20, 13a-1, 13a-15(a), 14a-3, and 13a-9 by failing to disclose all of its former
Developments in Securities Regulation, Corporate Governance, Capital Markets, M&A and Other Topics of Interest. MORE
Executive Compensation
2024 ISS Policy Update: Severance Arrangements
It appears the lone ISS policy update for the US will be to Severance Agreements for Executives/Golden Parachutes.
ISS will vote on a case-by-case basis on shareholder proposals requiring that executive severance (including change-in-control related) arrangements or payments be submitted for shareholder ratification.
Factors that will be considered include, but are not limited to:
- The
Stock Exchanges Publish Proposed Clawback Rules
Both the NYSE and Nasdaq have issued proposed clawback rules in connection with SEC Rule 10D-1.
NYSE
The NYSE proposes to comply with Rule 10D-1 by adopting proposed new Section 303A.14 of the Listed Company Manual. Proposed Section 303A.14 is designed to conform closely to the applicable language of Rule 10D-1 and requires an issuer…
SEC Adopts Final Rule on 10b5-1 Plans
The SEC has adopted final amendments to Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The amendments:
- Add new conditions to the availability of the affirmative defense under Exchange Act Rule 10b5-1(c)(1), including cooling-off periods for directors, officers, and persons other than issuers;
- Create new disclosure requirements regarding issuers’ insider trading policies and procedures
…
SEC Issues Final Compensation Clawback Rules
The SEC has adopted rules to require securities exchanges to adopt listing standards that require issuers to develop and implement a policy providing for the recovery of erroneously awarded incentive-based compensation received by current or former executive officers. The final rules require a listed issuer to file the policy as an exhibit to its annual…
SEC Adopts Pay Versus Performance Disclosure Rules
The Securities and Exchange Commission adopted final rules implementing the pay versus performance requirement as required by Congress in the Dodd-Frank Act.
The rules will require registrants to disclose, in proxy or information statements in which executive compensation disclosure is required, how executive compensation actually paid by the registrants and related to the financial performance…
